Hartford Police News

A prostitute told police that a customer drove her to East Hartford early Thursday, parked in a secluded spot and then threatened to kill her after he refused to pay for oral sex.

The woman was able to flee from the vehicle and was not injured, police said.

Police said they have received several such complaints from women who either voluntarily picked up a ride or were forced into a vehicle in Hartford and then driven to a secluded spot in East Hartford. In other cases, the driver exposed himself, then let the female passenger run off.

The driver Thursday was described as a black man, about 38, 5 feet 6, with short hair and a light complexion. He was driving a blue Isuzu pickup truck, police said. He picked up the prostitute near the corner of Garden and Ashley streets in Hartford about 4 a.m.

A 17-year-old Hartford man who was shot on Franklin Avenue Wednesday night was in stable condition at Hartford Hospital Thursday, police said.

Anthony Williams was shot near the southeast corner of Franklin Avenue and Shultas Place about 10 p.m. He and a friend had just left a convenience store when three males confronted them, police said. One pulled out a 9mm handgun, fired a shot at Williams but missed.

Williams turned and began to run when he was shot in the buttocks, police said. The bullet exited through his abdomen. He was taken by ambulance to Hartford Hospital.

The gunman was described as Hispanic, 17 or 18 years old, 5 feet 6, 150 pounds, with short hair and wearing a tan jacket.

A man armed with a gun knocked on the door of an Ashley Street apartment Wednesday afternoon and robbed the tenant before driving off in a blue Mitsubishi Eclipse, police said.

The robbery was reported at 4:40 p.m. at 174 Ashley St.

The robber stole about $580. He was described as 30 years old, 5 feet 5, wearing a black leather Harley-Davidson jacket, blue jeans and sunglasses.